Harry Potter 04 - Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

something about Voldemort getting stronger …’
    ‘Indeed,’ said Dumbledore, and he quickened his pace as they hurried out into the pitch-darkness.
    ‘He’s not acting normally,’ Harry said, hurrying along beside Dumbledore. ‘He doesn’t seem to know where he is. He keeps talking like he thinks Percy Weasley’s there, and then he changes, and says he needs to see you … I left him with Viktor Krum.’
    ‘You did?’ said Dumbledore sharply, and he began to take longer strides still, so that Harry was running to keep up. ‘Do you know if anybody else saw Mr Crouch?’
    ‘No,’ said Harry. ‘Krum and I were talking, Mr Bagman had just finished telling us about the third task, we stayed behind, and then we saw Mr Crouch coming out of the Forest –’
    ‘Where are they?’ said Dumbledore, as the Beauxbatons carriage emerged from the darkness.
    ‘Over here,’ said Harry, moving in front of Dumbledore, leading the way through the trees. He couldn’t hear Crouch’s voice any more, but he knew where he was going; it hadn’t been much past the Beauxbatons carriage … somewhere around here …
    ‘Viktor?’ Harry shouted.
    No one answered.
    ‘They were here,’ Harry said to Dumbledore. ‘They were definitely somewhere around here …’
    ‘Lumos,’ Dumbledore said, lighting his wand and holding it up.
    Its narrow beam travelled from black trunk to black trunk, illuminating the ground. And then it fell upon a pair of feet.
    Harry and Dumbledore hurried forwards. Krum was sprawled on the Forest floor. He seemed to be unconscious. There was no sign at all of Mr Crouch. Dumbledore bent over Krum and gently lifted one of his eyelids.
    ‘Stunned,’ he said softly. His half-moon glasses glittered in the wandlight as he peered around at the surrounding trees.
    ‘Should I go and get someone?’ said Harry. ‘Madam Pomfrey?’
    ‘No,’ said Dumbledore swiftly. ‘Stay here.’
    He raised his wand into the air and pointed it in the direction of Hagrid’s cabin. Harry saw something silvery dart out of it and streak away through the trees like a ghostly bird. Then Dumbledore bent over Krum again, pointed his wand at him, and muttered, ‘Rennervate.’
    Krum opened his eyes. He looked dazed. When he saw Dumbledore, he tried to sit up, but Dumbledore put a hand on his shoulder and made him lie still.
    ‘He attacked me!’ Krum muttered, putting a hand up to his head. ‘The old madman attacked me! I vos looking around to see vare Potter had gone and he attacked from behind!’
    ‘Lie still for a moment,’ Dumbledore said.
    The sound of thunderous footfalls reached them, and Hagrid came panting into sight with Fang at his heels. He was carrying his crossbow.
    ‘Professor Dumbledore!’ he said, his eyes widening. ‘Harry – what the –?’
    ‘Hagrid, I need you to fetch Professor Karkaroff,’ said Dumbledore. ‘His student has been attacked. When you’ve done that, kindly alert Professor Moody –’
    ‘No need, Dumbledore,’ said a wheezy growl, ‘I’m here.’ Moody was limping towards them, leaning on his staff, his wand lit.
    ‘Damn leg,’ he said furiously. ‘Would’ve been here quicker … what’s happened? Snape said something about Crouch –’
    ‘Crouch?’ said Hagrid blankly.
    ‘Karkaroff, please, Hagrid!’ said Dumbledore sharply.
    ‘Oh yeah … right y’are, Professor …’ said Hagrid, and he turned and disappeared into the dark trees, Fang trotting after him.
    ‘I don’t know where Barty Crouch is,’ Dumbledore told Moody, ‘but it is essential that we find him.’
    ‘I’m onto it,’ growled Moody, and he raised his wand, and limped off into the Forest.
    Neither Dumbledore nor Harry spoke again until they heard the unmistakeable sounds of Hagrid and Fang returning. Karkaroff was hurrying along behind them. He was wearing his sleek silver furs, and he looked pale and agitated.
    ‘What is this?’ he cried, when he saw Krum on the ground, and Dumbledore and Harry beside him. ‘What’s going on?’
    ‘I vos attacked!’ said Krum, sitting up now, and rubbing his head. ‘Mr Crouch or votever his name –’
    ‘Crouch attacked you? Crouch attacked you? The Triwizard judge?’
    ‘Igor,’ Dumbledore began, but Karkaroff had drawn himself up, clutching his furs around him, looking livid.
    ‘Treachery!’ he bellowed, pointing at Dumbledore. ‘It is a plot! You and your Ministry of Magic have lured me here under false pretences, Dumbledore! This is not